The best affordable hotels in Tokyo
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The Japanese capital does not lack spectacular hotels or Airbnbs, but affordable hotels in Tokyo can be harder to come by. With new hotels cropping up left and right, everyone wants to be a part of this city, from popular hospitality brand Mitsui Fudosan to realtor giant Hulic, with their budget-friendly, luxury-lookalike in Ginza. If you're in search of a property that's both nice and relatively affordable, look no further. Every hotel on this list offers rooms for around £250 or less, but even with their budget-friendly price tags, they don't fall short of our standards due to their unique room designs, accolades, and savvy technological advances.
Whether you're hoping to stay somewhere on the quieter side or prefer a place in the centre of all the nightlife, Tokyo is a bustling city with a variety of wonderful neighbourhoods. From apartment hybrids for long-term work trips to customisable room colour palettes, we're sure you'll find a unique, charming stay that fits your budget. Plus, you'll be able to use the extra coin on the world-renowned cuisine, interactive museums, and next-level shopping this city is home to.
Courtesy Hotel Groove ShinjukuHotel Groove Shinjuku
Neighbourhood: Shinjuku
Just steps from Shinjuku Station, Hotel Groove is a top contender for a budget traveller's first Tokyo trip. When it comes to the design, the hotel takes a lot of inspiration from the surrounding neighbourhood. Each of the 538 guest rooms is mindfully decorated with an eclectic mix of unique art and furniture inspired by the energetic entertainment scene of Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district – while still being tasteful and subtle. Beyond the entry-level Superior rooms, the sleeping quarters are quite large compared to other budget-friendly accommodations. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide the feeling of more space and a grand view of the city below. The decor is striking with colourful rugs, playfully textured pillows, and unique wood panelling – creating a bit of distance from the cookie-cutter hotels in the area.
OMO3 Tokyo Akasaka by Hoshino ResortsOMO3 Tokyo Akasaka
Neighbourhood: Akasaka
When it comes to business travel, the OMO3 is a given. The slim, efficient rooms are outfitted with clever designs, like a headboard that transforms into a couch as it stretches beyond the bed. Each room also comes with a range of toiletries and comforts that rival luxury stays: an air purifier, humidifier, refrigerator, and pyjamas are just some of the surprises you'll find in your room. The lobby doubles as a planning zone where guests can lounge and scope out a mural full of neighbourhood recommendations (QR codes are available to learn more in English).
Courtesy Hamacho HotelHamacho Hotel
Neighbourhood: Niohonbashi Hamacho
A Tetris tower with lush greenery sprouting off the balconies, Hamacho is a plot twist for those who think cheap hotels in Tokyo are relegated to capsules and by-the-hour "Love Hotels." Hamacho has been able to liven up its ergonomic spaces to create clever designs that suit guests' various needs, from compact guest rooms suitable for both work and relaxation to leisure and family-oriented rooms. You have your pick of smaller and larger rooms, and while the smallest budget rooms won't accommodate your large check-in, the larger rooms have plenty of space, a shrub-lined terrace, city views, and great sunlight.
Courtesy Sequence Miyashita ParkSequence Miyashita Park
Neighbourhood: Shibuya
Just steps from its famous “scramble” crossing, Sequence is for streetwear savants looking to be in the heart-of-it-all Shibuya. The lobby level begins in the rooftop park of a four-story luxury complex and rises another dozen floors above the city with prim, modular rooms. Most rooms are under 200 square feet but have picturesque views of the busy neighbourhood (but we're sure you'll spend most of your time outside exploring, anyway). Best of all, it's probably one of the best affordable hotels in Tokyo for a decent lie-in – Sequence starts check-in at 5pm and check-out at 2pm.
Courtesy The Barn TokyoThe Barn Tokyo
Neighbourhood: Taito City
This family-run boutique hotel stuffed full of high-end perks but with a budget price tag, leads the competition in a few ways. While the rooms are small – they make the most of it, offering ways to save on the limited space (like higher bed frames so suitcases can fit underneath). Also, TVs come with complimentary Netflix and YouTube access, which is an offering few luxury hotels have in Japan. In the common areas, you're met with upbeat staff with restaurant and excursion recommendations.
Courtesy Lyuro Tokyo Kiyosumi by The Share HotelsLyuro Tokyo Kiyosumi by The Share Hotels
Neighbourhood: Koto
Share Hotels is not new to the budget-friendly game – it has a large collection of accommodations that won't break the bank and still fit into Japanese architecture and design moulds. Value and efficiency are two keywords to keep in mind when looking at cheaper hotel options in popular cities, and both are ever present in the rooms and dorms of Lyuro. In the smallest spaces, guests still enjoy the necessary bathroom adornments that are standard in Japan – a bath and a robot toilet – while the accent walls of the bedrooms have been papered in subtle nautical themes that add dimension and character.
Courtesy Toggle Hotel SuidobashiToggle Hotel Suidobashi
Neighbourhood: Suidobashi
Toggle is the operative word: Guests can customize their experience, moving between the hotel’s different moods and room setups. If you have a favourite colour or a signature palette, you're sticking to for your upcoming trip; this is the place for you. The yellow and black stripes will grab you as you zoom by on the commuter train. Inside, the swatch book of eye-popping hues continues as purples and blues coat the common spaces and rooms. Opt for the moody blue colour for a calming, restful retreat or avocado green for a dynamic pop. Hallways sliced down the middle by different shades of paint make for particularly fun Instagramming as you toe the line between two brash commitments to colour. Toggle takes a chance with colour and design: bold pastels meet beds lofted above couches – a particularly fun standout duo in the small hotel rooms.
Courtesy Mustard Hotel ShimokitazawaMustard Hotel Shimokitazawa
Neighbourhood: Shimokitazawa
Nestled in the heart of the ever-so-trendy Shimokitazawa, Mustard embodies the neighborhood’s laidback vibe. Mustard acts as a meeting place for creatives to build community, create art, and hold performances. A fun bit of urban planning history is on display in the surrounding area: When officials buried the tracks of the Odakyu suburban metro line underground, a new opportunity arose to create more green space in an already cramped Tokyo. From there, the path from Higashi Kitazawa station all the way down to Setagaya Daita was created and is now home to shops, restaurants, and a handful of new hangouts.
A version of this article was first published on Condé Nast Traveler.